better mpg?

[ECMgarrett]

any ideas here? i drive 35 miles each way to work, looking to increase my mpg (as everyone is)
anyone find something that works well on our cars?

[Gizmo42]

Putting on a flowmaster muffler with 2.25" pipe from the y-pipe back gained me 1 mpg. Now I'm up to 16.6 mpg driving to work and back. These are heavy trucks so not great mpg on them.

[ECMgarrett]

hmm, maybe ill look into a custom exhaust then.
not only will it increase flow but maybe shed a few pounds = better mpg

[ECMgarrett]

hmm, maybe ill look into a custom exhaust then.
not only will it increase flow but maybe shed a few pounds = better mpg

[highlandlake]

Originally Posted by ECMgarrett

looking to increase my mpg (as everyone is)
anyone find something that works well on our cars?

Aside from a full tune up, proper tire inflation, reasonable acceleration at traffic lights - the only thing left to do is get a big old rope and a hook.
Find a larger vehicle going in the same direction as you and heave the hook at it. Put in in neutral and watch the MPG go up!

[Ramblin Fever]

That's too funny highlandlake!

Speaking of doing something like that, when we headed up to Blue Mesa last July - going up and over an 11,000 foot incline, we had the Dodge diesel pulling the boat, but quite a load in the Rodeo as well.

Don't think I didn't think to throw a rope out the back of that boat to hook onto the front of the Rodeo.

That Rodeo's got some good umph - but don't hold a candle to that 24V H/O Cummins Diesel; shame of it too, is that diesel can cream the Rodeo on mpg too.

In regards to upping mpg, on that '94 Rodeo, if you're running LT tires (versus P = passanger), you can safely run 36psi rear/38psi in the front. This WILL give at least some mpg, probably help corner better.

If you're running passanger tires (difference will be a P on the sidewall versus an LT) you can safely air up to the max cold pressure of the P tire, which is probably 35, although some go up to 44psi - in which case, air up to 36rear/38front.

The door psi calls for slightly less air, but trust me, there's no negative effects in running higher psi - I've done this for 10yrs on my current Rodeo, if anything, it allows the tires to actually last longer.

The 1st generation Rodeo's are slightly heavier then the 98+yrs, but, if maintained well, tires up, leave extra weight out if not needed, you can average 16-18mpg city. Do NOT drive with a heavy foot on this rig, or you will see as low as 12mpg - and keep taps on all your filters, air, pcv, fuel, etc.

I average 17-19mpg city/20-23 highway, even with running oversized tires, luggage carrier, brush-guard and a class 3 hitch that the receiver stays on full-time - never know when I'm gonna be haulin a horse trailer.

Keep your oil/filter changed EVERY 3k mile intervals, these trucks thrive on clean oil.

Got a pic?? I'm partial to the 1st gen's, not enough of us on this board.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by highlandlake

Aside from a full tune up, proper tire inflation, reasonable acceleration at traffic lights - the only thing left to do is get a big old rope and a hook.

I agree 100% On a 1994 3.2L, thats all you can do. You can experiment with tire inflations somewhere between the door jamb label and the tire sidewall specs. Dont go over the sidewall specs. I tend to keep them right between door jamb and sidewall specs.

Joel

[dmbland]

Originally Posted by Gizmo42

Putting on a flowmaster muffler with 2.25" pipe from the y-pipe back gained me 1 mpg. Now I'm up to 16.6 mpg driving to work and back. These are heavy trucks so not great mpg on them.

What kind of sound do you get with the flowmaster? I will need to be chaning out my entire exahust from the flex pipe back after this winter is through with it. But I don't want to get anything that will be too loud. We do a 3000 mile round trip ride with 2 peopel and 2 dogs every winter and summer vacation and I don't want to hear too much noise for that entire time. But, I do want to improve my MPG on that trip, so a little more 'bite' to the sound is ok, just nothing too..'riceish' sounding. Any sugestions on a good cat to go with that flowmaster would be appreciated.